Outline: Prussian Absolutism
I. geography of Prussia
A. no sea ports
B. poor mineral resources
C. no natural frontiers
II. Origins in Brandenburg
A. 1417 -- House of Hohenzollern
B. 1618 -- acquired Duchy of Prussia
--
access
to sea
III. Frederick William,
The Great Elector
(1640-1688)
A. standing army
B. paid for with money from royal
domain
and
taxes
C. officers collected taxes
D. Junkers -- landed aristocracy
hereditary
class of military officers
Frederick
III / Frederick I
(1688 - 1713)
IV. Frederick
William I (1713-1740)
1713 -- Treaty
of Utrecht made Elector
of Prussia the
King of Prussia
A. Spent little on his own coronation
i. cut
expenses of royal household by
three fourths
ii. increased
spending on military
iii. disciplined
citizens
iv. worked
constantly
B. The army
i. appeared
in uniform
ii. system
of recruiting
iii. doubled
size of army
V. Frederick
II The Great (1740 - 1786)
A. army of 200,000
i. Prussia small
-- 13th in size of population
3rd largest army
ii. Frederick
the Great's Military Instructions
B. annexed Silesia and violated the
Pragmatic
Sanction
C. Enlightened despot who encouraged
education and provided for subjects
kept classes frozen
Absolutism in Prussia
Austrian Absolutism
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Russian Absolutism
The Glorious Revolution
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Printable Version
